Starlight Children’s Foundation™ Canada along with partner Toys”R”Us, Canada to provide eight Canadian families with a fun-filled escape away from the hospital, and their daily struggles with illness this fall.

WINNIPEG, MB (September 12, 2017) - After being diagnosed with very high risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia last year, it’s safe to say that Winnipeg-based Starlight child Lily’s early life has had some challenges. From countless hospital stays to times of complete isolation during treatment, Lily (now seven years old) has missed out on many opportunities to enjoy just being a kid. This year, in an effort to provide Lily with a chance to create much-needed positive memories away from the hospital, Toys”R”Us, Canada in partnership with Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada will be gifting her with a 3-Minute Dash through the Toys“R”Us store located at 1560 Regent Ave. W., Winnipeg, MB.On Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at 7:00 a.m., Lily and her family will have the chance to race through the store to fill their shopping carts with as many free toys as possible within the three minute timeframe.

The 3-Minute Dash program (now in its fourth successful year) is donated by Toys“R”Us as part of their long standing partnership with Starlight and will take place in eight cities across the nation this fall: Ottawa, Montreal, St. John’s, Langley, Edmonton, Calgary, Toronto and Winnipeg. Each dash recipient was randomly selected as part of a contest Starlight held earlier this summer, in which families were asked to share the details of their child’s care journey and submit them to their local Starlight Programs Coordinator for entry.

“At Starlight, we see first-hand the daily struggles and challenges Canadian families face when caring for their seriously ill child,” says Starlight Executive Director, Brian Bringolf. “Programs like the 3-Minute Dash are at the heart of our organization, providing us with the unique chance to bring welcome distraction and a genuine smile to the faces of deserving children like Lily.”

Over the past 19 years, Toys“R”Us and Babies“R”Us continues to be one of Starlight’s most involved and valuable partners. Through in-store and online campaigns, 3-Minute Dashes, their Starlight Gala event sponsorship, and donations to in-hospital, neonatal care and out-of-hospital programs, they have donated an incredible $17 million to Starlight and have been extraordinary advocates in the community about Starlight’s work.

“Hope and laughter, entertainment and distraction, comfort and support are an integral part of the circle of care and make a real difference to the quality of a seriously ill child’s life. We hope our event brings Lily and her family much fun and excitement as our team members proudly welcome them to our Winnipeg Dash!” says Mary Hewton, VP Human Resources and Customer Relations for Toys“R”Us, Canada.

More about Lily

On November 21, 2016, Lily was diagnosed with very high risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Up until then, Lily was a completely healthy child, making the diagnosis an absolute shock to her and her family. Lily’s journey has been filled with many hours, days and weeks at the hospital, whether in cancer care, or in the CK-5 at the Children’s Hospital of Winnipeg. Despite all of her recent struggles, Lily finds ways to smile by enjoying activities like drawing, swimming, baking and singing. Lily will be celebrating her eighth birthday on October 1, making her upcoming dash an even more exciting event for her and her family.

This year, in addition to the 3-Minute Dash, Toys“R”Us has also helped sponsor:

Starlight Children’s Foundation™ Canada is part of Starlight’s global network, serving seriously ill children and their families through partnerships with more than 160 healthcare facilities. Over the past 25 years, Starlight has become a leading global charity that partners with experts to improve the life and health of kids and families around the world. Collaborating with innovators in pediatric healthcare, entertainment and technology, Starlight provides a unique blend of family-centered programs and services from hospital to home.